Refusing the Spirit Bone, Reducing Consumption

"Soul Bone?!"

Lin Li cried out in surprise, drawing Director Su's gaze over from where he was packing up nearby.

Seeing the glowing Spirit Bone, Director Su was visibly stunned as well.

Compared to him, Lin Li was even more shocked.

When he obtained his First Soul Ring, he had also obtained an External Soul Bone, although he did not use it often now because its age had not increased yet.

Two Soul Ring acquisitions, and two Spirit Bone acquisitions!

Lin Li did not believe this was merely a coincidence. The odds were far too low.

But he did not know the reason either. Various guesses surfaced in his mind, yet none had any evidence to support them.

Could it be that every Spirit Beast he hunted would drop a Spirit Bone?

That should be impossible. After all, the Ten-Year Soul Beasts he had killed on the way through the forest had not dropped any. Ten-Year Spirit Bones were rare, but they did exist. It was not only high-year Spirit Beasts that could drop Spirit Bones.

Then perhaps it was the Spirit Beasts from which he obtained Soul Rings that could drop Spirit Bones.

But why?

Lin Li knew this was good news. He would definitely never lack a complete set of Spirit Bones, especially since he still had a Second Martial Soul.

Yet having inexplicable luck descend upon him always made him uneasy.

"Student Lin, hurry up and absorb the Spirit Bone. It won't be good if someone comes."

Director Su roused Lin Li from his daze. In his view, the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest were not safe. Since neither of them had a Storage Soul Tool, it would be best to absorb the Spirit Bone right there.

Furthermore, the Spirit Bone and Soul Ring produced by the same Spirit Beast had to be obtained by the same person to achieve the best effect.

"You're right. I have to absorb it quickly."

Lin Li nodded, then decisively handed the Spirit Bone to Director Su. "I've already obtained more than enough this time. This Spirit Bone should rightfully go to Director Su."

"How could that work? I'm already this old. It would be a waste even if I used it..."

This was an 1800-Year Spirit Bone! Director Su had never even seen a treasure of this level in his life!

Lin Li also knew what he was thinking. After all, to the vast majority of people on Douluo Continent, a hundred-year Spirit Bone was already a supreme treasure. The ten-thousand-year and Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Bones from the original story were resources only the protagonist group could obtain. Even Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo of Spirit Hall did not possess Spirit Bones.

"You don't need to consider me. My goal is a Spirit Bone that's existed for more than ten thousand years. If Director Su doesn't take this one, I won't absorb it either."

"This..."

Lin Li had not told the truth.

Although he indeed would not absorb a Spirit Bone with too few years, that did not mean it was completely useless.

After all, he had not joined any faction. Since he yearned for freedom, this thousand-year Spirit Bone could be exchanged for some excellent resources.

But if he did not put it that way, Director Su would have no way to accept it. He could not bring himself to seize a student's opportunity.

"I'll go keep watch outside. The forest is dangerous, so Director Su should hurry and absorb it."

Taking advantage of Director Su's hesitation, Lin Li placed the Spirit Bone on the ground. After a few flashes, he left the spot.

Seeing this, Director Su understood Lin Li's resolve. While feeling somewhat moved, he also made up his mind to absorb it.

He was certainly tempted. It was just that, because of his responsibility as a teacher and his bond with Lin Li, he chose to suppress that temptation.

Lin Li made a round outside, and when he returned and saw Director Su beginning to absorb it, he relaxed.

He hated affected behavior most of all. If he really had to say something, his eloquence would not be enough. Leaving directly was the best solution Lin Li could think of.

At that moment, Lin Li carefully sensed his Soul Power Level.

Strangely enough, he did not need a Soul Power Testing Crystal Ball to sense his own Soul Power Level, and he could even determine it precisely down to the individual level.

Did this work in every version, or only in the anime version?

Lin Li could not remember. At that moment, he had already sensed his Soul Power Level.

Level 25!

"In that case, I really have to leave."

Putting aside the fact that reaching Level 20 fulfilled the requirement for early graduation from the Junior Soul Master Academy, Lin Li would not put himself in a dangerous environment either.

Besides, he still had to plan for the Immortal Herbs. Eating them when he was in his twenties was best.

If his level was too high, their effects would be limited, which would be a waste. If his level was too low, he would be unable to absorb them completely. Although they could be stored in his body, Lin Li knew that part of them would certainly overflow and go unabsorbed.

That was simply how the flow of energy worked. Storage came with a cost.

Then next, he would go to Heaven Dou City and get close to Dugu Bo... No, that was still somewhat dangerous. Perhaps he could approach Dugu Yan instead?

However, deceiving and using a woman was something Lin Li still found somewhat objectionable.

"Let's take things one step at a time. Perhaps some other opportunity will appear."

While keeping watch on the outskirts, Lin Li thought about his plans for the future. Before long, the time came for Director Su to finish his absorption.

"Congratulations!"

"I should be thanking you, Little Li. My bottleneck has been broken. Perhaps I can even make a push for Soul Ancestor."

Although the possibility was not great, Director Su had at least seen a glimmer of hope.

"By the way, Little Li, does your Soul Ring still increase your basic attributes?"

As if he had thought of something, Director Su looked at Lin Li curiously.

"That's right. This Soul Ring increased All Attributes by seventy percent, and it's Passive."

Lin Li began to imagine.

Once he obtained all nine Soul Rings, activating his Martial Soul would automatically activate the Passive Soul Skills of all nine Soul Rings, directly putting him into his strongest form.

Although activating nine Passive Soul Skills would consume a great deal of Soul Power, Lin Li was not too worried.

Not to mention that his total Soul Power was also increasing, he had discovered that he possessed an innate advantage when it came to the cost of summoning his Martial Soul.

Suppose an ordinary person had a total Soul Power of 100 at the First Soul Ring stage. Summoning their Martial Soul would consume ten percent per hour, while using a Soul Skill would directly consume ten percent of their Soul Power. By the time they reached the Second Soul Ring stage or higher, what increased was their total amount. The First Soul Ring still consumed ten percent, but the Ninth Soul Ring consumed seventy percent or even more.

That was why a Titled Douluo would not unleash their ultimate move right from the start—the consumption was simply too severe.

But Lin Li was different. First, Passive Soul Skills consumed Soul Power continuously instead of instantly drawing it out of his body and releasing it, so the consumption was inherently slower.

There was another very important reason. When Lin Li had been in his teens, his First Soul Ring consumed ten percent per hour. Now that he had obtained his Second Soul Ring, the Soul Skill consumption of his First Soul Ring was only seven percent!

The figures were merely examples. Lin Li had not conducted experiments to determine the exact consumption, but he could sense the rate of consumption. It had indeed slowed considerably.

Part of that was because his total amount had increased, while another part was probably because of the bug-like divine skill, "Adaptation."

He just did not know whether Mahoraga had adapted to being his Martial Soul itself, or if it was something else... In any case, this was good news.

"By the way, Director Su, there's something I need to tell you."

Lin Li softened his tone and said, "I plan not to return to Nuoding City. Please help me process my graduation."

"What?!"

Director Su was caught completely off guard. The plans he had originally made seemed to turn into rootless duckweed in an instant.

Leaving so soon?

"I plan to go to Heaven Dou City. I need to become stronger... Of course, I'll come back to visit you from time to time."